Catholics in Middle Village are mourning the loss of Msgr. Nicholas Sivillo, the former longtime pastor of Our Lady of Hope church, who died Friday night at the age of 76.
Sivillo, who was ordained a priest in May 1964, served as Our Lady of Hope’s pastor from 1988 to 2009. He gained a tremendous following among parishioners for his involvement in various activities in both the church and school.
Prior to arriving at Our Lady of Hope, Sivillo served at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Ozone Park and St. Francis of Assisi Church in Long Island City. He was also active in the Diocese of Brooklyn Catholic Education Office, the Family Life and Pre-Cana programs, and, for more than 25 years, served as NYPD Housing Bureau chaplain.
Following his retirement in 2009, Sivillo served in residence at St. Margaret Church, also in Middle Village, and at Brooklyn’s Holy Spirit Church. He died Friday while under care at the Bishop Mugavero Residence at the Immaculate Conception Center in Douglaston.
A wake for Sivillo will be held Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m., and Monday from 2 to 5 p.m. at Hillebrand Funeral Home, located at 63-17 Woodhaven Blvd. in Rego Park. Our Lady of Hope, located at 61-27 Eliot Ave., will hold a vigil Mass for the late pastor on Monday at 7:30 p.m. and a Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m.
Following Tuesday’s Mass, Sivillo will be interred at St. John Cemetery.
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